September 18, 2011 Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm145; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16 ? ????????? Isaiahwas spot on when he captured the Lord’s words, “For my thoughts are not yourthoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” His words are helpful to remember as wehear the difficult Gospel parable about the generous landowner’s hiringpractices. In the tale, vineyard laborers are hired at various times throughoutthe day for the same wage. Since we value hard work, we sympathize with theearly laborers who, after toiling long and hard under the hot sun, do not get ahigher wage or bonus. It seems fair that those who bear the brunt of the workare accordingly rewarded. We want what is fair and just and our social justiceefforts arise from these deeply held values. This reading challenges thecorrectness of our assumptions. ????????? Jesusis using this story to tell the religious authorities that newer converts tothe faith are welcome to receive the everlasting promises, even though they havenot kept the Torah or religious observances as they did. Admittance to thefaith is based upon belief and the good works that arise from these positions,not past performance, hours worked, or production quotas. Jesus is revealingsomething peculiar about God – overarching compassion and inclusion foreveryone. ????????? Ifwe dissect the parable, we see important qualities in God’s character. God iscontinually searching for believers (laborers) to come to the vineyard ofabundance and plenty. God’s justice is inclusive. It extends beyond fairness.It is a concrete expression of “Give us this day our daily bread.” In otherwords, God wants to provide everyone with an adequate wage to feed theirfamilies. Generosity and justice, mercy and compassion are the new order of theday. It creates an environment in which the poor and weak can share in God’sbeneficence just like their neighbors who fare better in life. More equitablerelationships can be formed and broken bonds can be restored. The former humanstandards, which are often good and fair to many, no longer cut it because theydisenfranchise others. The kingdom of God is a better place to be than thekingdom of humans. ????????? Thisparable challenges us to change our line of sight. Instead of looking into thepast and glorifying what we have done, we are to look to the future to see theremarkable possibilities for more enhanced human relationships. Ironically, wesometimes do not want to see another do well or to get equal status orrecognition, and at the same time, we think we ought to get more notice andhonor. We know we are special and we don’t want to be overlooked. The samedynamic occurs with our neighbor. Through God’s example we can discover theunique value of all peoples as they are also invited into the joy of the kingdom. ????????? Let’sremember this is a story to highlight God’s character in dealing with us. Theemphasis is not focused on in inequitable distribution, but rather God’s promisedand imminent care of each of us. God wants us to enjoy all we need. It helps usto orient our attention to God as the provider of these wages; it helps usrefrain from becoming greedy or acting as the alpha male to take a well-foughtplace among society. When we turn our attention back to God we become gratefulto the one who gives us what we want and need. Our response will never bedissatisfaction; it can only be one of overflowing gratitude. Themes for this Week’s Masses FirstReading: In Ezra, King Cyrus of Persia proclaimed thatevery person who is willing may go up to Jerusalem to build the house of theLord and adorn it with jewels. The generosity of neighbors was exceedingly great.King Darius issued an order to let the governor and elders of the Jews continueto work on the house of God – to rebuild it on its former site. The returnedexiles celebrated the dedication of this house with joy. Massive numbers ofsacrifices were made and priests and Levites were set up in their service ofGod in Jerusalem as prescribed by the book of Moses. The exiles kept thePassover as was their custom. In the book of the prophet Haggai, Zerubabbelreceived word that it was not time to rebuild the house. The word came a littlelater. Haggai said the new house will be of greater splendor than the old. Itwill contain the glory of the Lord and it will give you peace. In the book ofZechariah, an angel appeared before him to declare that the Lord is like a ringof fire around Jerusalem and that the Lord will soon dwell among them and theywill be his people. Gospel: Jesus urges his people to be like a lamp that does no good being concealed. Itmust be raised on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. AsJesus speaks, his embarrassed mother and brothers call to him because they wanthim to stop talking as if he were God. Herod the tetrarch heard about whatJesus was doing and he was greatly perplexed. He inquired about the identity ofJesus. Some answered that he is John raised from the dead or Elijah or one ofthe ancient prophets. Herod wanted to meet Jesus. Jesus then asks his friends,”Who do the crowds say that I am? Who do you say that I am?” Peterreplied, “You are the Christ.” Jesus told them that he must suffer,die, and be raised on the third day. Everyone was amazed at every deed ofJesus, but he told them that the Son of Man must be handed over to men. No oneunderstood what he meant. Saints of the Week Monday: Januarius, bishop and martyr (d. 305) , was bishop ofBenevento during his martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution. He wasarrested when he tried to visit imprisoned Christians. Legend tell us that avial that contains his blood has been kept in the Naples cathedral since the 15 th century liquefies three times a year. Tuesday: Andrew Kim Taegon, priest, martyr, Paul Hasang, martyr, andcompanion martyrs (19th century), were Korean martyrsthat began to flourish in the early 1800’s. The church leadership was almost entirelylay-run. In 1836, Parisian missionaries secretly entered the country andChristians began to encounter hostility and persecutions. Over 10,000Christians were killed. Taegon was the first native-born priest while the restwere 101 lay Christians. Wednesday: Matthew, evangelist and Apostle (first century), may be two differentpeople, but we have not historical data on either man. Since Matthew reliesheavily upon Mark’s Gospel, it is unlikely that the evangelist is one of theTwelve Apostles. The Apostle appears in a list of the Twelve and in Matthew’sGospel he is called a tax collector. The Evangelist is writing toJewish-Christians who are urged to embrace their Jewish heritage and toparticipate in their mission to the Gentiles. To Matthew, Jesus is thefulfillment of the hopes of Jews and the inaugurator of a new way to relate toGod. Friday: Pioof Pietrelcina, priest (1887-1968) was affectionately named Padre Pio andwas a Capuchin priest who received the stigmata (wounds of Christ) just as Francisof Assisi did. He founded a hospital and became the spiritual advisor to manyat a monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo. This Week in Jesuit History · ???????? Sep 18, 1540. At Rome, PedroRibadeneira, aged fourteen, was admitted into the Society by St Ignatius (ninedays before official papal confirmation of the Society). · ???????? Sep 19, 1715. At Quebec, the death ofFr. Louis Andre, who for 45 years labored in the missions of Canada amidincredible hardships, often living on acorns, a kind of moss, and the rind offruits. · ???????? Sep 20, 1990. The first-everCongregation of Provincials met at Loyola, Spain, on the occasion of the 450thanniversary of the approval of the Society and 500th anniversary of the birthof St Ignatius. · ???????? Sep 21, 1557. At Salamanca, MelchiorCano wrote to Charles V’s confessor, accusing the Jesuits of being heretics indisguise. · ???????? Sep 22, 1774. The death of Pope ClementXIV, worn out with suffering and grief because of the suppression of the Society.False stories had been circulated that he was poisoned by the Jesuits. · ???????? Sep 23, 1869. Woodstock College of theSacred Heart opened. With 17 priests, 44 scholastics, and 16 brothers it wasthe largest Jesuit community in the United States at the time. · ???????? Sep 24, 1566. The first Jesuits enteredthe continental United States at Florida. Pedro Martinez and others, whileattempting to land, were driven back by the natives, and forced to make for theisland of Tatacuran. He was killed there three weeks later.

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